The Curse of Dark Root: Part Two (Daughters of Dark Root Book 4) (37 page)

I nodded solemnly. “We both are. The curse––it hasn’t been broken.”

“We’ll kick its ass together,” he said resolutely.

“God, I’m glad to have you home.”

“Only death can tear us asunder,” he joked.

But there was an edge to his words that made us both nervous.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Love Child

SHANE DROVE ME back to Harvest Home in his gray Chevy truck. He didn’t mention where he picked it up, and I didn’t ask. Though the exterior was caked in mud, the interior was clean and smelled like new leather. Even so, the odometer proved it had racked up plenty of miles. As we parked, I spotted a candy bar wrapper peeping out from beneath my seat. I wondered if it belonged to Shane... or his son?

Shane gasped. He was seeing Harvest Home in its current state of decline for the first time––a veritable wasteland of parched earth, dead flowers, and bare trees.

“What the hell happened?”

I settled on the abbreviated version, skipping over the deal they’d made with Larinda. “Aunt Dora and Jillian tried to help break my curse, but ended up tapping the magick around here instead.” I pointed to the various balls and dangling shoes strewn across the windows, and to the half-buried clay vases filled with urine, nails, and hair near the porch steps.

“So they went crazy?”

“It would seem that way. Aunt Dora’s going old school, and poor Jillian’s getting thinner and grayer by the day.” I laughed, though none of it was funny.

“Actually, that’s pretty sweet,” he said.

“I suppose,” I sighed. “I hope this place recovers soon.”

“Uncle Joe taught me that magick doesn’t entirely go away. It gets converted, but it’s always there, recycling itself. Trust me, whatever they tapped will return in time.”

“That’s good, because the bed and breakfast I plan to open would only attract camels with this desert landscaping.” I winked at him. “And camels are known for being divas.”

“I made a list one night of all the things I missed about you, and your sense of humor was right near the top.”

“Near the top, as in top ten?”

He leaned across the seat and kissed the tip of my nose. “Well, there is that adorable nose, these lips, and these green eyes. I couldn’t sleep at night without thinking about those haunting eyes of yours. They almost drew me into your dreams.”

“Shane...” I licked my lips, turning so that I could fully see him. “Was that you calling me? I swore I heard your voice many times. I thought you were haunting me.”

Shane looked into his lap, fiddling with his thumbs. “I’ve been hiding out in the forest for a few weeks,” he admitted.

“What!? Why?”

“I needed to make sure I wasn’t followed. I couldn’t put you all in danger. I’m ninety-nine percent sure they don’t know I’m here.”

“Only ninety-nine percent, huh?”

He shrugged, smiling apologetically as he pulled the keys from the ignition. “I didn’t call your name. I’d never intentionally scare you like that.”

“You’ll only scare me unintentionally. Got it.” I gave him a thumbs up, though I still wondered about that voice in my head. Another mystery that may or may not be solved. I was getting used to that in Dark Root.

Our eyes turned towards the once-beautiful property, our hands hovering above the door handles like gunslingers waiting to draw.

“You ready?” I asked. “There will be questions.”

“I’m ready.”

“What will you tell everyone?”

“The bare minimum.”

“You mean you’ll lie?”

Shane rubbed his chin, drawing in his lips. “Lie is a tough word, Maggie. I’ll omit, if necessary.”

I smiled. “Morally ambiguous. I like that in a man.”

We stepped out of the truck and joined hands, marching up the porch steps and entering the house together. Michael was standing by the sofa with a remote control in his hand, clicking buttons even though the TV wasn’t on. Aunt Dora napped in her recliner, her cane draped across her knees, while Jillian lounged against the kitchen doorway, expectantly.

Everyone came alive at once, like actors waiting for their cues. Even Aunt Dora snapped awake, rattling her cane to the floor.

“Shane!” Jillian raced for him, swaddling him in her arms. Michael helped Aunt Dora from her chair and she waddled over, joining in the hug.

“‘Tis a miracle,” Aunt Dora muttered repeatedly.

Jillian stepped away, grasping the crystal stone around her neck. “It certainly is.”

Michael watched from the sidelines, his face expressionless, though his fingers whitened over the remote control. “So, you rose from the grave, did you?”

“Stop it, Michael!” I glared at him.

“I’m just making conversation, like everyone else here.”

“I know exactly what you’re doing.”

Shane hung up his hat and looked Michael in the eye. “I’m back for good, if that’s what you mean.”

“How fortunate for all of us.” Michael’s eyes ran the length of Shane’s body, stopping at his cut lip, then moving towards a grass stain on his shoulder. He took a step forward, expanding his chest like a silverback gorilla. “Must have been quite an ordeal. Judging by the look of you, you lost what, twenty pounds or so?”

Shane held his ground, widening his stance. “Ten.” He patted his slim torso. “But thanks for noticing. I can give you some diet tips, if you like.”

“The Deadbeat Diet. For cowards and crooks.”

Aunt Dora glanced nervously between the men, muttering that she should make some homecoming tea and hurried off to the kitchen.

Michael crossed his arms, tightening his jaw. “Where have you been, Shane Doler? Where in God’s name did you disappear to when the woman you profess to love needed you?”

There was an unfamiliar gleam in his eye. It wasn’t rage or anger or even a threat. But it was ominous.

“I had to take care of a personal responsibility. He glanced from me and Jillian. “And I’m sorry for that, but I wouldn’t have left if it weren’t absolutely necessary.”

“Do you have any idea what you put this woman through?” Michael pointed at me, his lips curling with disgust. “Or do you even care?”

“Both of you, cut it out!” I ordered, stomping my foot. “This is a happy day for me, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let any male chest thumping ruin it. Got it?” I turned to each of them, meeting their eyes and staring them down.

Shane nodded.

“Yes, Maggie,” Michael lowered his eyebrows. “We should be happy, shouldn’t we? I, for one, am delighted. I’m going to check on
our
son now. Taking care of loved ones is what a responsible man does.”

With that, he stomped up the staircase.

“So, he’s still living here?” Shane asked.

“Yes, for now, but I can ask him to leave.”

“No. I made this mess. I’ll deal with it.”

WHEN THE HOUSE settled, Shane went to shower and Jillian summoned me into the kitchen. She and my aunt were gathered around a pot of tea, pouring the brew into cups and adding ice cubes.

“Since when do we drink cold tea?” I asked. Even in the summertime, tea was served hot in Dark Root.

“This isn’t fer ya,” Aunt Dora said, handing me the mug and a baby bottle. “Didn’t want ta say it in front o’ Shane, but yer son’s sick again.”

“He is?” I asked. “I should go check on him.”

“We’ve been keeping a close eye on him,” Jillian said. “He’s a little better now. Mostly just an upset tummy and a touch of fever. Dora made this catnip tea to help him settle.”

“Isn’t that for cats?”

“Aye,” Aunt Dora confirmed. “But good fer babies, too!”

I took the catnip tea into the nursery. Montana snoozed in a fetal position, thumb in his mouth, while Merry hovered protectively. Though the sports mobile was motionless, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” played from its music box.

“How’s it going?” I asked my sister.

She smiled, nodding towards the mobile. “That is your son’s doing. I tried to turn it off but the song keeps playing. I think it soothes him.”

“Poor little guy,” I frowned.

I stared at the mobile for a long moment. It went silent. I grinned, but my victory was short lived. Montana opened one eye, staring at the tiny plastic baseball bat dangling above him. The toy fixture began spinning and the song resumed, even louder.

I said, wearily. “Oh Merry, how am I supposed to raise this little guy?”

“The way any parent raises a strong-willed child. You just need a stronger will.” She smiled warmly. “June Bug had a toy that played ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ so often I started having dreams that I was the bus driver! The things we put up with for kids, huh?” She stroked Montana’s cheek. “I gave him a cool sponge bath to help with the fever, then fed him cereal with crushed mint for his stomach.”

“I guess I lucked out in the big sister department. Thank you.”

“Thank
you
, Maggie, for bringing this little guy into our lives. It’s so nice to have a baby in the house. It gives me purpose again.”

My body responded to the sight of my son and my breasts leaked a little. I took the rocking chair and pumped what was left of my milk. It smelled sour. “Merry, I’m really worried about him.”

“Montana’s sickness might not be
the curse
, Maggie. It could just be teething or a summer cold. These things happen.” She shrugged, though I knew she didn’t believe it herself.

Whatever afflicted me, afflicted him.

Merry sat on the floor in front of my rocking chair, drawing her knees into her chest. “I miss June Bug being this age. Heck, I just miss June Bug.”

“Any news?”

She pursed her lips, rocking in place. “Frank called. He sounded angry but he wouldn’t say why.” She swallowed back her fear.

I put down the pump and adjusted my shirt. “It doesn’t matter if he’s angry. She’s your daughter. He’s bringing June Bug back or else!”

Merry’s eyes were less certain. “Now that you have Shane back to help you, maybe I should go to Florida and get June Bug myself.” Her jaw trembled but there was resolve in her blue eyes.

“If you go, I go” I said.

“Maggie, you couldn’t. You need to think of
your
family right now.”